Sixers Notes: Josh Smith deal would not interest 76ers, sources say

Two league sources said speculation about Josh Smith possibly coming to the 76ers is unfounded. Getty Images

By John N. Mitchell, Inquirer Staff Writer

Posted: February 14, 2013

MILWAUKEE - Websites have speculated about a possible trade that would send Evan Turner and Spencer Hawes to Atlanta for soon-to-be unrestricted free agent Josh Smith, but such a deal would not interest the 76ers, according to two league sources with knowledge of the situation.

"Why would the Sixers be interested in making a deal for a player who can walk at the end of the season and leave them holding nothing but the bag?" one source said. "I don't see where that makes sense for them."

Although the Sixers would acquire Smith's Larry Bird rights - meaning they could sign him to a more lucrative deal than any other team - they would have no guarantee that Smith would re-sign with them.

The 6-foot-9 small forward is in his ninth season with the Hawks and in the final year of a five-year, $58 million contract. The word coming out of Atlanta is that Smith almost certainly will not re-sign with the Hawks.

Happy for Holiday

Milwaukee point guard Brandon Jennings was one of the players Jrue Holiday had to beat out to make the Eastern Conference all-star team.

Entering Wednesday night's game, the Sixers point guard was averaging more points than Jennings (19.1 to 18.5) and also more assists (8.8 to 6.1). However, Jennings plays for the team with the better record. Also, going into Wednesday's game, Jennings had gone for 33 and 25 points in a pair of wins over the Sixers.

"I thought I would get the nod this time because we have the better record," said Jennings, who grew up in California like Holiday and has known him since he was 11. "But I think the one thing that coaches really like about Jrue is that he had that playoff experience last year, and I didn't. That means a lot with coaches."

The Bucks, seeded eighth in the Eastern Conference, moved four games ahead of the ninth-place Sixers.

Keeping a playoff spot means more to Jennings than an all-star selection.

"I'm real happy for Jrue," Jennings said with a smile. "But I'm not going to let him catch me in the standings."